Advocates and authorities advocate for a minimum wage set at $25 per hour in Los Angeles County.
Gathering Momentum: Pushing for a Record-Breaking Minimum Wage in LA County
Make way for a potential revolution in the wage landscape of Los Angeles County, as passionate labor advocates and influential officials rally for a minimum wage of at least $25 an hour.
On a bustling Monday, over 150 workers, labor leaders, Democratic party heavyweights, and notable donors convened at Wally's Wine & Spirits in Santa Monica, marking the birth of a new crusade to boost the minimum wage in LA County to an unprecedented level.
Amidst the symphony of clinking glasses and clashing cutlery, Saru Jayaraman - an L.A. attorney and president of One Fair Wage - underscored the need for rapid action addressing the steep rise in the cost of living.
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Dubbed as the highest minimum wage in the U.S., the proposal would gradually escalate the minimum wage for hotels and LAX workers to a staggering $30 by 2028.
"Bold, proactive action is what we require," Jayaraman declared. "This is the only path for people to afford to reside in LA County."
A person residing in LA County, working full-time in a family without children, needs approximately $28 an hour to cover the essentials like rent, transportation, and food, Jayaraman claimed, citing MIT's living wage calculator.
The hourly minimum wage in Los Angeles currently stands at $17.28, surpassing the state's minimum by 78 cents. As of yet, no wage proposal has been presented to the county, but labor groups are geared up to collaborate with the LA County Board of Supervisors to solidify the specifics.
The initiative is bound to face fierce opposition from business groups.
This new drive follows the LA City Council's approval of wage boosts for airport and hotel workers to $30 an hour by 2028. Hotels and tourism industry organizations, however, have continued to contest the new ordinance, filing paperwork last week to rally a citywide vote to overturn it.
Business leaders adamantly opposed to the tourism wage hike had previously predicted that Southern California, like other tourism meccas nationwide, would be confronted with a slowdown in international travel due to trade war strife and deportation threats. In this battle, hotels could be forced to close restaurants or other small businesses on their premises, and potentially shut down entirely, according to these leaders.
The coalition of businesses that aim to annul the wage - the L.A. Alliance for Tourism, Jobs, and Progress - must gather roughly 93,000 signatures in the upcoming weeks to qualify the measure for a ballot in an upcoming election.
LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who backed the tourism wage boost, voiced concerns about the impending struggle in the coming weeks and months.
"Unions are prepared for a fight," she asserted. "Corporations and businesses will escalate their attacks and do everything in their power to reverse these policies. We are talking about workers being able to purchase food and live within the city they work in."
The campaign to elevate the minimum wage enjoys the support of LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who stated at the event that she frequently hears from her constituents that they are slowly getting priced out.
"The cost of merely surviving in Los Angeles County is simply breathtaking every day," Mitchell sighed.
Mitchell champions a comprehensive minimum wage increase, rather than industry-specific pay hikes.
"We don't propel ourselves forward when we have a fragmented, sector-by-sector approach," Mitchell lamented.
Beyond tourism workers, healthcare and fast-food employees have similarly advocated for wage improvements at the state or local level.
In unincorporated areas of LA County, the minimum wage is currently $17.81. The federal minimum wage remains static at $7.25 per hour.
Further Reading
Faced with a $30 Minimum Wage, Hotel Investors Start Looking Outside LA
LA City Council Members Were Warned a Vote Could Violate Public Meeting Law. They Voted Anyway
Businesses Seek to Overturn Hotel and Airport Wage Hikes by Forcing a Citywide Election
Additional Insights:
- City of Los Angeles Minimum Wage Increase: As of July 1, 2025, the minimum wage in the City of Los Angeles will increase to $17.87 per hour. This is part of the city's annual adjustment to ensure the wage keeps pace with inflation[5].
- Hotel Workers and LAX Employees: The Los Angeles City Council has approved a proposal to increase the minimum wage for hotel workers and LAX employees to $30 per hour by 2028. This plan is part of a broader package that includes healthcare benefits[2].
- Fair Work Week Ordinance: Los Angeles County is implementing a Fair Work Week Ordinance effective July 1, 2025, which affects retailers and grocers with over 300 employees nationwide. This ordinance aims to improve predictability and fairness in scheduling[3].
- Proposed Increase for City of Los Angeles: On May 12, 2025, the Los Angeles City Council voted to consider a proposal for a $22.50 minimum wage, but this is not yet finalized and is subject to change[1].
The potential impact of any significant minimum wage increase includes:
- Economic Benefits: Higher wages could lead to increased consumer spending and improved living standards for low-income workers.
- Employment Effects: Critics argue that such increases could cause a decrease in employment, as businesses may reduce staffing to offset higher labor costs.
- Inflationary Pressures: Some argue that higher wages could contribute to inflation, as businesses may pass on costs to consumers.
In summary, while there is no specific proposal for a $25 minimum wage in Los Angeles County, there are ongoing discussions and approved increases in the city and specific industries. This dynamic situation reflects the shifting landscape of minimum wage in LA.
- The minimum wage in Los Angeles County is under consideration for a potential escalation to $25 an hour, following a rally led by labor advocates and influential officials.
- In LA County, a full-time worker in a family without children needs about $28 an hour to cover essentials like rent, transportation, and food.
- The Los Angeles City Council has approved a proposal for hotel and LAX workers to receive a minimum wage of $30 per hour by 2028, a move that has ignited debate within the city.
- A coalition of businesses, aiming to overturn the tourism wage hike, is gathering signatures to qualify the measure for a ballot in an upcoming election.
- Beyond tourism workers, healthcare and fast-food employees have also advocated for wage improvements at the state or local level.
- The proposed minimum wage increase enjoys the support of LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who has expressed concerns about the rising cost of living in Los Angeles County and the need for comprehensive wage increases rather than industry-specific pay hikes.
